The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-08

| per1lOuS feR6 IL was, ana Deggeu IN low
voices:
tom Tom do come down. Lets
give it upr' But Tom whispered back,
'stop your noisel take care of my cap and
shoes and stop your noisel"
Not word was spoken after that. Al
most breathless the boys watched from
below, holding fast the end of the rod
to steady it, while crept out and secured
the cap and shoes. Meanwhile Tom
gained the caves, where he rested few
minutes before beginning the most dan
gerous part of the ascent. Slowly NOV
ing up, we saw his dark form against the
sky; then we lost sight of him as he
swung into the shadow; but in mo-
ment he appeared climbing over the bal
ustrade into the belfry.
I am sure we all felt like shouting our
| Joy, but we kept silent and listened. Pres
emily we heard him cautiously raising
the trap door; then breaking down the
narrow, shaky stairs, which had long
been considered unsafe, but yet allowed
to remain as they were; then he was
laundering through the dark gallery; and
at last he was fumbling at the hasp
which secured the vestry door on the
| inside.
Then they all rushed in, and old "Pro-
hibition Bell" was rupg as it rever had
been rung before-"Di ng.domg, ding
80 - ~ dad
on the still midnight air, and was echoed
back from the hills, rousing the whole
village; heads were popped out OF win
dows along the street, and suppre ssed
laughter was heard, for everybody knew
how confident the Commodore had been.
The boys had rupg it furiously for
about ten minutes, and the little cannon
had begun to speak on every corner,
when from my watch window spied
lantern in the Commodore's door-yard.
In another moment | had scattered the
ringers; and by lifetime he had appeared
on the scene OF action with the black
smith, whom he had routed from his
bed, there was not boy visible, except
the small fellows with their cannon on the
nearest cross street, who were unable to
tell him anything, simply because they
did not know.
The culprits, however, we're all within
hearing and lost not word Of the old
gentleman's strong assertions, spoken
loud on purpose for their ears, which he
was shrewd enough to suppose were
within hearing, that he would find out
"who they are, and I'll prosecute every
one of them to the fullest extent OF the
law"
The two men searched everywhere.
Even to the belfry, from which their Ian
tern shone like beacon, and they tried
every window and looked into every pew,
then, giving it up, the blacksmith put
paddock on the outer door and they de-
parted.
The boys gave them just time enough
to get home, then, at my sign, they start.
ed up from their hiding places and the
bell began to toll, deep and strong and
quick. Tom, who had planned for every
possible contingency, had carried in his
pocket, when he climbed up, a strong
cord wound round a pebble to which
one end was secured; the other he had
tied to the clapper of the bell; then un-
winding, he had hurled the stone back
down over the sheds; and now they were
using this strong cord with a will.
The bell had doomed furiously for
few minutes when the lantern appeared
again in the Commodore's yard, and back
he came with his companion. They found
the church all right-not window I'M
fastened, and every door secure; SO re-
locking the outer ones they proceeded to
an inspection of the sheds. But while
they we're still in the vestibule, bending
over the inner lock, Tom had slipped in
and hidden himself in the wood closet.
1t did not require much searching on the
part of the men to find the cord which
they tried to break by their united Efforts,
and succeeded by saving it along the
| edge of the roof.
And now the sexton was 80 sure that
the bell would be at rest for the remand
or of the night that he laughed at
the blacksmith when he proposed that
they should sit ON the meeting house
steps with their lantern and watch till
daybresk, which was not very far off
He dispersed the small boys, bidding
them, $50 home and go to bed, and come
again at sunrise, then I will ring the bell
myself; and you may all ring till your
hands are blistered. As for those ras-
calls" raising his voice, ''if they have
broken so much as pane Of glass in this
house, will have the law on them to.
morrow
The boys had pretty busy night of it.
but they were not through yet. AS soon
as the familiar lantern had vanished in
the Commodores house, window in
the church was gently raised, dark Ian
tern in Toms hand shone moment,
there was good deal of climbing in and
out, of low talking, and the sound Of
tools being used, and certain other sounds
strongly suggesting that something was
going on in the belfry. Then the boys
dispersed just at daylight, agreeing to
keep watch and see what happened next.
Promptly at sunrise came the sexton,